Pushbutton switch with adjustable contact plates for normally on, normally off, and momentary action

ABSTRACT

A contactor is provided having a cylindrical housing containing an axially operable spring biased contacting plunger. A U-shaped contact spring is supported by the plunger and extends longitudinally along the axis of the plunger having laterally disposed contact points near its ends. A contact supporting base is provided having a central opening extending axially within the base for the reception of the contact points. Contact plates are secured to the contact supporting base on opposite sides of the central opening and having contact ribs extending into the central opening for making electrical connection with the contact points. At least one of the contact plates can be selectively secured to the contact supporting base in one position or another for effecting circuit closures at respectively different operating positions of the plunger.

I United States Patent 1 [111 3,777,091

Palombo et a1. Dec. 4, 1973 PUSHBUTTON SWITCH WITH 3,134,004 5/1964 Long 200/159 R ADJUSTABLE CONTACT PLATES FOR 3,437,775 4/1969 Piber 200/159 R UX 3,118,031 1/1964 Duncan 200/166 so ux NORMALLY ON, NORMALLY OFF, AND MOMENTARY ACTION Larime, Fairfield, both of Conn.

[73] Assignee: General Signal Corporation,

' Rochester, NY.

[22] Filed: July 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 274,764

[52] US. Cl 200/166 BC, 200/16 D, 200/159 R, 200/ 166 M [51] Int. Cl. H01h 13/50 [58] Field of Search 200/159 R, 166 BC, 200/166 136,159 A, 166 M, 166 SD, 16 A, 16 D [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,951,926 9/1960 Frantz et al. 200/159 R 3,225,149 12/1965 Shlesinger, Jr.. ZOO/16 D 3,098,141 7/1963 Wintriss 200/159 B 3,328,552 6/1967 Gribble et al ZOO/166 BC X 2,314,407 3/1943 Kirsten 200/159 R Primary ExaminerRobert K. Schaefer Assistant Examiner-Robert A. Vanderhye Attorney-George W. Killian et a].

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT A contactor is provided having a cylindrical housing containing an axially operable spring biased contacting plunger. A U-shaped contact spring is supported by the plunger and extends longitudinally along the axis of the plunger having laterally disposed contact points near its ends. A contact supporting base is provided having a central opening extending axially within the base for the reception of the contact points. Contact plates are secured to the contact supporting base on opposite sides of the central opening and having contact ribs extending into the central opening for making electrical connection with the contact points. At least one of the contact plates can be selectively secured to the contact supporting base in one position or another for efiecting circuit closures at respectively different operating positions of the plunger.

12 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEDDEC 4197s 6 3.777091 6 v I SHEET 20F 3 FIG. 3

28 26 6 26 229 29 26 (NORMALLY CLOSEDX' 1 v (NORMALLY OPEN)" FIG. 4A FIG. 4C

(MOMENTARY) FIG. 4B FEG. 4D

PATENTED DEC 4 I975 sum 3 BF 3 PUSI-IBUTTON SWITCH WITH ADJUSTABLE CONTACT PLATES FOR NORMALLY-ON,

NORMALLY OFF, AND MOMENTARY ACTION While the invention is subject to a wide range of applications, it is especially suited for use as an axially operable cylindrical contactor'wherein the member which actuates the contactor moves at right angles to the direction of motion of the contact actuating plunger. Typical examples are wherein it is desired to actuate a contact in response to the sliding motion of a casement window in its track; or wherein it is desired to operate a contact when a door moves etc. Of course there is nothing about the contactor that prevents its use as an ordinary finger actuated contactor, or for any other purpose.

Contactors of this type are used in different circuit applications wherein the requirement may be either for a contactor having a normally closed contact, a normally open contact or a momentarily closed contact. Contactors are known in the art for providing this facility, but it is generally required that a different contact structure be used for each of the three different contact arrangements, it being generally impossible to readily convert a contactor having one contact arrangement into a contactor having one of the other contact arrangements. The present design may be readily changed, even in the field.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cylindrical contactor that substantially obviates one or more of the limitations and disadvantages of the described prior art systems.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cylindrical contactor wherein the same contact plates are used in different positions for forming normally closed, normally open or momentary circuit connections.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A contactor is provided having a cylindricalhousing containing an axially operable spring biased contacting plunger. A U-shaped contact spring is supported by the plunger and extends longitudinally along the axis of the plunger with laterally disposed contact points near its open ends. A contact supporting base is provided having a central opening extending axially within the base for the reception of the contact points. Contact plates are secured on opposite sides of the central opening and have contact ribs, or detents, extending into the central opening for making electrical connection with the contact points. At least one of the contact plates is selectively secured to the contact supporting base in one position or another for effecting, in combination with the other contact plate and the contact points, circuit closures at respectively different operating positions of the plunger.

In order to provide for and permit actuation of the contactor in response to the motion of a member at right angles to the direction of motion of the contact actuating spring, a ball actuator is provided. The ball can revolve about its center and is restrained within a longitudinal chamber so that its center can move only in the direction of motion of the contact actuating spring. The ball actuator helps to seal dirt and moisture from the interior of the switch.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference should be had to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, while its scope will be pointed out in the appending claims.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a cylindrical contactor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in cross section, taken along the lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C show contact plate orientation for forming respectively normally closed, momentary and normally open contact positions for the cylindrical contactor;

FIG. 4D showsan alternate form for the contact plate;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a cylindrical contactor according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view shown partly in cross section of the cylindrical contactor according to the second embodiment taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top view partly in cross section taken along the line 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG 6; and,

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 6.

With reference to FIGS.- 1 and 2, a cylindrical contactor is illustrated having a cylindrical housing 10 containing an axially operable spring biased contacting plunger 11. A U-shaped contact spring 12 is supported by the plunger 11 and extends longitudinally along the axis of the plunger 11 with laterally disposed contact points 13 near its open ends. A contact supporting base 14 is provided having a chamber or central opening 15 extending axially relative to the plunger 11 within the base 14 for the reception of the contact points 13. Contact plates 16 and 17 are secured to the contact supporting base 14. The contact plates 16 and 17 have contact ribs 18 and 19 extending into the central opening 15 for making electrical connection with the contact points 13. The contact plate 16 is selectively secured to the contact supporting base 14 in one position or another for forming in combination with the other contact plate 17 and the contact points 13, circuit closures at respectively different operating positions of the plunger 11.

The alternate positions of the contact plate 16 may be achieved by rotating the contact plate 16 and/or turning it over.

The housing 10 and the base 14 are preferably formed integrally of a plastic material having a mounting flange 20 formed at one end thereof and having screw holes 21 formed therein. Referring now more particularly to FIG. 2 it will be seen that the upper portion of the housing 10 includes a chamber 32 which is adapted to guide the plunger 11 and to retain an actuating ball 22 so that its motion is limited to reciprocal motion in the chamber 32. The ball 22 is inserted into the chamber 32 through an opening 33 in the flange 20 of the housing 10 that is slightly smaller in diameter than the diameter of the ball 22 but can be expanded to permit insertion because of resiliency of the plastic material. Before the ball 22 is inserted, plunger 11 which is adapted at its top to receive the ball 22 is first inserted together with a coil spring 23 that biases the plunger 11 against the ball 22 and the contact spring 12 is coupled to the plunger 1 l in the manner shown. The upper end of the U-shaped contact spring 12, as shown in FIG. 2, has outwardly extending flanges that are engaged in cooperating recesses in the plunger 11. The plunger 11 is preferably made of a pliable plastic material to permit insertion of the spring 12. The base 14 has flat recesses (see FIGS. 2 and 3) forming flat supporting surfaces for the contact plates 16 and 17.

The contact plates 16 and 17 are usually identical in structure, but different sides of these plates may have their contact ribs extending within the opening 15 to be contacted by the contact points 13. This is best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 wherein the contacting ribs that are used for different contact combinations are the ribs that are oriented towards contact points 13. Thus the contact plates 16 and 17 of FIG. 4A are illustrated as having ribs 18 and 19 which are positioned as shown on opposite sides of the opening 15, for providing a contactor with normally closed contacts. The plates 16 and 17 of FIG. 4A are identical and the front view of one is the back view of the other. By removing the plate mounting screw 24 or 25 the associated contact plates 16 and 17 may be rotated or turned over as may be required. The plate mounting screws pass through holes 26 in the contact plates 16 or 17. The screws 24 and 25 go into the threaded holes 26 and 27, respectively, of the contact supporting base 14 (see FIG. 3). When the contact plates 16 and 17 are oriented as illustrated in FIG. 4B the ribs 28 will make momentary contact with the moving contact points 13 when the ball actuator 22 is pushed downward as viewed in FIG. 2. When the contact plates 16 and 17 are oriented as illustrated in FIG. 4C the ribs 18 and 19 will make contact with the contact points 13 when the ball actuator 22 is pushed downward as viewed in FIG. 2. It will be obvious that it would also be possible to arrange one of the contact plates 16 or 17 with the rib 29 towards the contact points 13 and arrange the other contact plate 17 or 16 as shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B or 4C. With plates 16 and 17 which are identical, and by selectively choosing the ribs, l8, 19 or 28 of the respective plates the three different contact combinations shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C can be obtained for providing normally closed, momentary closed or normally open contact combinations.

At stated the contact plates 16 and 17 are secured to the contact supporting base 14 by screws 24 and 25 which also serve as terminals for connection of wires to the respective contact plates 16 and 17. Openings 30 are provided in a base flange 31 for passage of wires through the flange 31 and location of the wires proximate to the wire connection screws 24 and 25. This keeps the wires (not shown) separated, and facilitates installation of the contactor in an opening of a size for receiving the cylindrical housing 10.

With reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, hole 26 is provided for passage of the screws 24 or 25 for securing the contact plates 16 and 17 to the side of the contact supporting portion of the base 14. It will be noted that only a single screw is required for securing each plate because the configuration of the base 14 retains the plate in whatever orientation it is placed. That is, rotation of the plate 16 or 17 is prevented when the screw 24 or 25 has secured the plate.

FIG. 4D shows an alternate form of the contact plate. This contact plate may be used in place of both of the plates 16 and 17. Plate 60 has the same hole 26 as the plates 16 and 17 but has only one main contact rib 61. The contact rib 61 is proportioned so that its length from top to bottom, as viewed in FIG. 4D is more than one-half of the maximum top to bottom measurement of the plate 60. When two plates are mounted so that their ribs 61 extend into the upper part of the chamber of the central opening 15 a normally closed contactor is provided. When the two plates are mounted so that their ribs 61 extend into the lower part of the chamber of the central opening 15 a normally open contactor is provided. And when one plate 60 has its rib 61 extend into the upper part of the opening 15 and the other plate 60 has its rib 61 extend into the lower part of the opening 15 a momentary contactor is provided.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated wherein a contact supporting base 40 of plastic material is detachably coupled to a cylindrical plastic housing 41 by resilient detents 42. This permits a ball actuator 43 to be inserted from the right of the cylindrical housing 41 as viewed in FIG. 6 and to also permit a plunger 44 and associated biasing spring 45 to be inserted in the hous ing 41 prior to the assembly of the base 40 to the housing 41.

A U-shaped contact spring 46 comparable to the U- shaped contact spring 12 of FIG. 2 is secured in the plunger 44 and has contact points 47 operable within an opening 48 in the base 40. A common contact plate 49 has a contacting rib extending into the opening 48 so as to be in contact with the U-shaped contact spring 46 throughout the longitudinal actuation of the plunger 44. On the opposite side of the opening 48 another contact plate 50 has a relatively narrow contact rib extending within the opening 48 so as to be contacted by the U-shaped contact spring 46 during only a limited portion of the longitudinal movement of the plunger 44. The contact plate 50 can be rotated in one direction or another from the position shown in FIG. 7 to provide that the combination of this contact plate and the common contact plate 49 can be adjusted to provide a closed circuit only when the plunger 44 is in its normal position, or in an intermediate position or in a fully actuated position.

The contact plates 49 and 50 are secured to the base 40 by screws 51 shown in FIG. 9. By this organization, the contact combinations of the cylindrical contactor can be readily changed without removing the screws 51 by only loosening the screw 51 holding the contact plate 50 sufflciently so that the plate 50 can be rotated to permit its contact rib or detent 52 to be moved to a selected one of the three holes 53 permitting passage of the detent 52 into the opening 48 for engagement with the axially operable contact spring 46.

While there has been shown and described what is considered at present to be preferred embodiments of the invention, modifications thereto will readily occur to those skilled in the applicable arts. For example a cylinder could be substituted for the ball actuator. It is believed that no further analysis or description is required and that the foregoing so fully reveals the gist of the present invention that those skilled in the related arts can adapt it to meet the exingencies of their specific requirements. It is not desired, therefore, that the invention be limited to the embodiments shown and described, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A contactor having a cylindrical housing containing an axially operable spring biased contacting plunger wherein the improvement comprises:

a. a U-shaped contact spring supported by the plunger and extending longitudinally along the axis of the plunger with laterally disposed contact points near its ends for making and/or breaking electrical contact with contact plates in response to the axial motion of said plunger in either direction,

b. a contact supporting base having a central opening extending axially within the base for the reception of the contact points, and

c. said contact plates secured to the contact supporting base on opposite sides of said central opening and each having contact ribs extending into the central opening for making at least selective electrical connection with the contact points in re sponse to an axial excursion of the plunger;

d. at least one of the contact plates being so proportioned that it may be secured to the contact supporting base by a single securing means in a selected one of a plurality of orientations for effecting different relative positions of its rib so that circuit closuresbetween said contact plates may be effected at different respective axial positions of the plunger depending upon the selected orientation of said one contact plate.

2. A contactor according to claim 1 wherein said contact plates are identical and have identical ribs on first and second edges thereof.

3. A contactor according to claim 2 wherein the contact plates include ribs which may be selectively oriented to extend into the central opening to provide for limiting circuit closure to only an intermediate part of the possible full excursion travel of the plunger.

4. A contactor according to claim 1 wherein said one plate is secured to the base for limited relative rotation with respect thereto and with its rib extending through a selected one of a plurality of openings in the base to orient the associated rib to select the portion of an excursion of the plunger during which a circuit can be closed through the plates of the contactor.

5. A contactor according to claim 1 wherein the contact supporting base is detachably coupled to the cylindrical housing by resilient plastic detents.

6; A contactor according to claim 1 wherein said contact plates have an edge which serves as a contact rib.

7. A contactor according to claim 6 wherein said contact plates are identical and may be selectively secured to the contact supporting base so that their respective ribs:

a. both extend into an upper portion of the central opening; or b. both extend into a lower portion of the central opening.

8. A contactor according to claim 7 wherein said ribs of said contact plates are so proportioned that if one rib extends into an upper portion of the central opening and the other extends into a lower portion of said central opening they both have rib portions extending into an intermediate portion of said central opening.

9. A contactor for responding to the motion of an external member at right angles to the axis of the contactor and comprising in combination:

a. a housing having first and second connected chambers;

b. a ball actuator in said first chamber supported for reciprocal motion along the axis of the contactor;

c. first and second contact plates secured to said housing and having edges serving as contact ribs extending into said second chamber;

d. a reciprocating contact coupled to said ball actuator and extending from said first chamber to said second chamber for making and/or breaking a connection between the contact ribs of said first and second contact plates in response to the reciprocal motion of said ball actuator in said first chamber; and

e. means for supporting at least one of said first and second contact plates so that its contact rib may be selectively extended into selected portions of the second chamber whereby said reciprocating contact makes contact with said last named contact rib at a predetermined part of the reciprocal motion of said reciprocating contact and wherein said one of said first and second contact plates may be selectively supported by said supporting means so that its contact rib:

1. extends into an upper portion of said second chamber; or

2. extends into a lower portion of said second chamber; or

3. extends into an intermediate portion of said second chamber.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 9 and including bias means for biasing said ball actuator towards one limit of its reciprocal motion.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 9 and wherein said first and second contact plates are identical.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 9 and wherein said contact ribs of said first and second contact plates are so proportioned that if one extends into an upper portion of said second chamber and the other extends into a lower portion of said second chamber they both have contact rib portions extending into an intermediate portion of said chamber. 

1. A contactor having a cylindrical housing containing an axially operable spring biased contacting plunger wherein the improvement comprises: a. a U-shaped contact spring supported by the plunger and extending longitudinally along the axis of the plunger with laterally disposed contact points near its ends for making and/or breaking electrical contact with contact plates in response to the axial motion of said plunger in either direction, b. a contact supporting base having a central opening extending axially within the base for the reception of the contact points, and c. said contact plates secured to the contact supporting base on opposite sides of said central opening and each having contact ribs extending into the central opening for making at least selective electrical connection with the contact points in response to an axial excursion of the plunger; d. at least one of the contact plates being so proportioned that it may be secured to the contact supporting base by a single securing means in a selected one of a plurality of orientations for effecting different relative positions of its rib so that circuit closures between said contact plates may be effected at different respective axial positions of the plunger depending upon the selected orientation of said one contact plate.
 2. A contactor according to claim 1 wherein said contact plates are identical and have identical ribs on first and second edges thereof.
 2. extends into a lower portion of said second chamber; or
 3. extends into an intermediate portion of said second chamber.
 3. A contactor according to claim 2 wherein the contact plates include ribs which may be selectively oriented to extend into the central opening to provide for limiting circuit closure to only an intermediate part of the possible full excursion travel of the plunger.
 4. A contactor according to claim 1 wherein said one plate is secured to the base for limited relative rotation with respect thereto and with its rib extending through a selected one of a plurality of openings in the base to orient the associated rib to select the portion of an excursion of the plunger during which a circuit can be closed through the plates of the contactor.
 5. A contactor according to claim 1 wherein the contact supporting base is detachably coupled to the cylindrical housing by resilient plastic detents.
 6. A contactor according to claim 1 wherein said contact plates have an edge which serves as a contact rib.
 7. A contactor according to claim 6 wherein said contact plates are identical and may be selectively secured to the contact supporting base so that their respective ribs: a. both extend into an upper portion of the central opening; or b. both extend into a lower portion of the central opening.
 8. A contactor according to claim 7 wherein said ribs of said contact plates are so proportioned that if one rib extends into an upper portion of the central opening and the other extends into a lower portion of said central opening they both have rib portions extending into an intermediate portion of said central opening.
 9. A contactor for responding to the motion of an external member at right angles to the axis of the contactor and comprising in combination: a. a housing having first and second connected chambers; b. a ball actuator in said first chamber supported for reciprocal motion along the axis of the contactor; c. first and second contact plates secured to said housing and having edges serving as contact ribs extending into said second chamber; d. a reciprocating contact coupled to said ball actuator and extending from said first chamber to said second chamber for making and/or breaking a connection between the contact ribs of said first and second contact plates in response to the reciprocal motion of said ball actuator in said first chamber; and e. means for supporting at least one of said first and second contact plates so that its contact rib may be selectively extended into selected portions of the second chamber whereby said reciprocating contact makes contact with said last named contact rib at a predetermined part of the reciprocal motion of said reciprocating contact and wherein said one of said first and second contact plates may be selectively supported by said supporting means so that its contact rib:
 10. The combination as set forth in claim 9 and including bias means for biasing said ball actuator towards one limit of its reciprocal motiOn.
 11. The combination as set forth in claim 9 and wherein said first and second contact plates are identical.
 12. The combination as set forth in claim 9 and wherein said contact ribs of said first and second contact plates are so proportioned that if one extends into an upper portion of said second chamber and the other extends into a lower portion of said second chamber they both have contact rib portions extending into an intermediate portion of said chamber. 